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Biggerthanever，theEuropeanChampionshipkicksoffinParisonFridaywithafour-weekfeastoffootballthatpromisestoelevatethegameabovethecorruptionscandalsandsecurityfearsthathaveovershadoweditsbuild-up。

AlleyeswillbeonhostsFrancewhentheygettheballrollingagainstRomaniaintheStadedeFrance210daysaftersuicidebombersatthesamevenuetriggeredanightofhorroracrossthecapitalwhichkilled130people。

ItshouldhavebeenaproudmomentforformerUefapresidentMichelPlatini。

PredictEuroonNaijabet。

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TheFrancegreat，whoinspiredhiscountrys1984titleonhomesoil，achievedhiswishofexpandingthetournamenttoarecord24nations。

Butafour-yearban，handeddownafterbecomingengulfedbytheFifacorruptionscandalthathasrockedthesport，meanshispresenceatthetournamentwillbeinapurelyunofficialcapacity。

Againstsuchabackdropitcanonlybehopedthatthetournament，thefirstsincethesleazehitthefanlastsummerandthelastwithasinglehostbeforeitgoescontinent-widein2020，candeliversomememorablemomentsonthepitch。

Itcertainlyhasthepotentialtodosowith51matchesin31daysspreadacrossFrancefromthecoal-miningcountryofLensinthenorthtotheMediterraneanportofMarseille。

UnfamiliarqualifierswillbehopingtoshowtheybelongandvindicatePlatinisbrainchild，criticisedbysomeassubstitutingqualityforquantity。

Theestablishmentshouldproveagain，however，thatthecreaminevitablyrisestothetopandthatGreecessurprisetriumphin2004wasananomaly。

SpainretainedthetitlefouryearsagoinPolandandUkraine，atournamentcomprisingonly16nations，andwillbeamongthefavouritestomakeitahat-trick，althoughthree-timeschampionsGermany，2012runners-upItaly，FranceandaresurgentEnglandwillallfancytheirchances。

NorthernIreland，Albania，Iceland，SlovakiaandWalesareallappearingforthefirsttimeinthetournamentwhichissecondonlytotheWorldCupintermsofprestigeandnottoofarbehindinquality。

ForSpainsoldguard，playerssuchasAndresIniesta，SergioBusquets，GerardPiqueandSergioRamos，Euro2016couldbetheirlasthurrahafterthedisappointmentoftheBrazilWorldCuptwoyearsago，andwitholdsageVicentedelBosqueatthehelm，theywilltakesomestopping。

France，winnersin1984and2000，willcarrythehopesofanationstillcomingtotermswithlastyearsmilitantattacks。

ManagerDidierDeschampshassomeenviablequalityathisdisposalinJuventusmidfielderPaulPogbaandforwardsKingsleyComanandAntoineGriezmann。

WorldchampionsGermanywillbetargetingafirstEurotitlein20yearswhileEnglandseektheirfirstinternationalsuccesssincetheWorldCupof1966。

RoyHodgsonsyouthfulsidewentthroughqualifyingwitha100percentrecordandhaverealgoalthreatintheformofJamieVardy，oneofthestarsforunlikelychampionsLeicesterCity，andTottenhamHotspursHarryKane。

Oneconsequenceofthefatterformatmeansonlyeightteamswillbeeliminatedfromthesixinitialgroupsoffour，witheventhirdplacelikelytosealalast-16spot。

Spainsgrouplooksthetoughestonpaper，withtheCzechRepublic，TurkeyandCroatia，whileFranceshouldcomfortablytopasectionincludingAlbania，RomaniaandSwitzerland。

Italywillalsohavetobeontheirguardagainstadangerous-lookingBelgiumsquad，IrelandandSwedenwhoinZlatanIbrahimovichaveoneofthetournamentsA-listers。

OthersvyingforthelimelightincludePortugalsCristianoRonaldowhoenduredadisappointingWorldCupandisrunningoutoftimetoclaimafirsttitleforhiscountry。

Ofthedebutants，IcelandsappearancewilladdnoveltyvaluealthoughhavingfinishedabovetheNetherlandsinqualifyingtheywillneedtobetakenseriouslybygrouprivalsPortugal，AustriaandHungary。